Thursday, March 25, 2010

#597) MIKE BORDICK

Mike Bordick was acquired by the New York Mets from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Melvin Mora, Mike Kinkade, Lesli Brea, and Pat Gorman on July 28, 2000. The deal was made right at the major league trading deadline to bolster the team's post-season run. A week earlier the Mets had been in discussions with the Cincinnati Reds in an effort to acquire Barry Larkin. A deal was reached, but Larkin refused the trade. Mets' starting shortstop, Rey Ordonez had broken his arm in late May of 2000. Bordick gave the club an All-Star caliber replacement. "I'm very excited to be in a playoff race," Mike would say upon joining the team, "The Orioles are struggling this year and to be thrust into a playoff race is great."

During his first day in the clubhouse third baseman, Robin Ventura fashioned a name tag for the newest Met. "Hello, my name is Mike," read the tag he placed on Bordick's uniform, "but you can call me Bordy." The Shea Stadium fans quickly learned his name. In his first at-bat as a New York Met, on the first pitch from Cardinals' pitcher Andy Benes he saw, an anxious Bordick homered to left-field. A standing ovation ensued and was followed by a curtain call from the crowd. "It was incredible, certainly one of the biggest highlights of my career." Mike said about his home run and the reaction. "It was very exciting. This whole thing was exciting. Obviously, the victory was most important."

The Mets would win the National League Wild Card and advance to the World Series in October of 2000. Unfortunately the reliable Bordick would struggle hitting during the post-season. After 10 years of major league baseball he would get his first World Series at-bat. Only to see manager, Bobby Valentine choose to start Kurt Abbott at shortstop over the slumping veteran for the important Game 5. "It's very frustrating, but I am only disappointed in myself," Mike said before the game. "Obviously we are down 3-1. We've got to do something to spark us." The Mets would lose the game 4-2 to the New York Yankees, who clinched a World Championship without Bordick entering the game.

Mike resigned with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent on December 20, 2000. He became a offense coach for the Orioles' minor league system in 2010.

Mike Bordick signed his card in the set for me in Bradenton, Florida, prior to a spring training game between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates on March 10, 2010.

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PROJECT STATUS

Current Count of 712 of 791 players.

90.0% Complete

( 7 -Special Moment cards)

Project started in October 2008.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The New York Mets and all their fans bid farewell to a major part of their history at the close of the 2008 baseball season. Shea Stadium had been our summer home for 45 years. So many memories were built there by the 790 players that appeared in a game for the Mets during that time. In celebration of that I created a set of handmade cards featuring each one of these men. My design was done in such a way as to allow an autograph to be included. I am now in the process of having each one signed by those players. This blog will feature the cards as I get them completed. I hope you enjoy following my progress and reliving the careers of these great men that will always be our Mets.

ABOUT ME

I am a lifelong New York Mets fan that grew up in the midwest. I have followed the club and it's rich array of characters throughout the years. Perhaps the most special of which are the "one game" appearances. These men each have a terrific story and honor the legacy of the great Archibald "Moonlight" Graham.
As an autograph collector of the Mets team I will be posting my successes here as well. The focus of my collection is to add a signed baseball card for each man to appear in a game for the Mets. I will be posting examples of these here.